nature play and nature study
One of the main reasons we homeschool is to allow our children time to explore, play, and learn outside. It's important for our family's well being. Unfortunately, we live in a world where many children and families do not have as many opportunities to explore outside as in the past. Richard Louv, in Last Child in the Woods, coined the term Nature Deficit Disorder in 2005. Louve writes,
“Reducing that deficit—healing the broken bond between our young and nature—is in our self-interest, not only because aesthetics or justice demands it, but also because our mental, physical, and spiritual health depends upon it.”
For our family, we aim to combat this idea of nature deficit disorder by instilling a love of nature in our children, offering lots of outdoor play opportunities, and nature study as part of our homeschooling.
